Ecuador a birding paradise!

October 19, 2019vidma

Currently in Paris waiting for our flight home, this shot was taken almost at the end of our 24-day trip in Ecuador. In 22 full birding days, we managed to record over 800 species – something we never expected to happen!

I got stuck at 799, out of which 525 were lifers. 36 were heard-only, not that bad. Highlights of the trip included the self-found Pittasoma at Playa de Oro (after being one day late in Mashpi!), Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe at 4.300m in the Andes, a cracking Long-wattled Umbrellebird in a mossy forest, both Agami and Zigzag Heron in the Amazon, both Sungrebe and Sunbittern also there, and Black-necked Red Cotinga, Lunulated Antbird and Salvin’s Curassow in the amazing Napo Wildlife Center. And, more generally, we enjoyed every hummingbird and – even better? – tanagers including the beautiful White-capped Tanager, the rare Scarlet-and-white Tanager, and the over-the-top Paradise Tanager. It was great, also thanks to our brilliant local agent Cris and #BirdingBreaks! We want to thanks Sjoerd Radstaak, Pieter van Veelen and Lars Buckx to share with us their experience.